r/Barbados • u/itfeelscorrect • 4d ago
bugs!
Excited to visit next month, but feeling very nervous about bugs. What is the best insect repellent strategies/products from locals? Particularly concerned about centipedes and mosquitoes
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u/iamPendergast Helpful 4d ago
The only one to pay any mind to is mosquitos and Off! With deet works very well. Centipedes are infrequently seen and are not flocking that you can repel them!
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u/Ok_Elephant_9705 4d ago
Deet. The sand flies (no-see-ums) can be brutal at dusk if you're at a restaurant or bar on the beach, or an old rum shop. Don't mess around and just spray your legs and arms. Better to use it and not have needed it than be eaten alive and have an uncomfortable vacation. Yes I'm speaking from experience.
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u/ketoLifestyleRecipes 4d ago
My beach buddies swear by Skin So Soft. Too feminine perfume for me. I use deep Woods at dusk when needed.
We sometimes get roaches at the beach house which turns into an all out war which is over very fast.
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u/IfThisWasReal21 4d ago
My friends and I were just there and they couldn't believe the lack of bugs. They're not a big issue.
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u/Far_Meringue8625 3d ago
You are unlikely to encounter a centipede [I've had only one minor encounter in 60+years] if you are staying at even a half decent place. But if you see the centipede before it sees you the Bajan response is the kill it. A heavy shoe works. But remember the centipede is not trying to hunt you, it is simply trying to escape from the big, scary human. Humans being apex predators.
If your accommodation is screened and air conditioned you may not encounter mosquitoes or sandflies either
But for outdoors I second the recommendation for medisoft.
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u/Far_Meringue8625 3d ago
Please don't take medical advice from me as I am NOT a medical professional, but a nursing sister of mine permits the first sandfly to bite her, then she applies the insect repellent, claims something which I don't understand about the body's immune response. But I would not volunteer to have even one mosquito bite.
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u/zeehun 3d ago
I went in June last year and I didnt get bitten ,maybe just couple times. But no angry mosquitos to bother me or anything like that. No horrible flies etc to hustle me either. So I think a basic repellent spray from the local pharmacy will do the job. Or go without first night and see how is it.
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u/shhhthrowawayacc Local 4d ago
There’s a bug cream you can buy in local pharmacies called medisoft. I’m super allergic to bug bites and I keep it in stock. It’s a fantastic deterrent!